Mike over at Tar Heel Mania is hosting this edition of the late night gathering around the fire with pitchforks we call the ACC Roundtable.

1. What player whom you were not even thinking about in August has made the most positive impact on your team? Conversely, what supposedly key player(s) has fizzled for reasons other than injury?

If you’re like me and have no social life and an unhealthy obsession with college football then your finger is on the pulse of your program 24/7. No one flew under my radar, but I’ll say I’ve been most impressed with Tyrod’s growth as a passer, decision maker and leader. On the flip side, Jason Worilds has yet to takeover a game like he did all throughout last year. The consensus from last night’s podcast between BCO, F4H and myself is that Nekos Brown hasn’t been able to execute like Orion Martin when Worilds is doubled. Still most of the onus is on Worilds, because great pass rushers defeat double teams.

2. UNC’s performances, and in particular the two losses, have felt like the ghost of Carl Torbush is roaming the sidelines. What part of your team’s past, positive or negative, has this season drudged up?

For me these Hokies are a house blend of the 2003 and 2006 teams. Talent wise they remind me of the ‘03 squad, because we’re loaded at every skill position and we can yolk you for six at any time. Like the ‘06 bunch we’ve lost a couple of key games that’ll end up putting a sour note on the season.

Oh Brandon we didn’t win the ACC, but on that night you made me sleep easier than a baby who put down three Ambien and SOCOs.

3. Because this is the ACC, no team is truly out of the conference race yet; 5-3 can still win the division. Find your inner optimist, no matter how bruised, and tell us why you’re still holding out hope for your team. (This is NOT the best-case scenario question; rather, what your team has shown to indicate success in the immediate future.)

5-3 might be the mark to beat in the Atlantic, but the winner of the Coastal will be 6-2 at worst. I’m extremely confident VT can post a 7-1 record, but they no longer control their own destiny. Optimally the Hokies need the Yellow Jackets to lose an ACC game. They might be able to get by on any Georgia Tech loss as long as Miami and VT both win out and we’re ranked ahead of GT and within five places of Miami in the final BCS standings.

Virginia Tech fans rejoicing after a Georgia Tech loss

4. What remaining conference game not involving your team do you look forward to most and why?

Clemson at Miami should be a romp, but I’ll be more interested in every game that Georgia Tech plays.

5. Now for what Block-C would call the “shits and giggles” question. Offense in the ACC is…well, offensive. To solve this problem we’re putting four ACC offensive coordinators into the Thunderdome, where only one man will emerge to smear a football field with his tactics again. Bryan Stinespring and John Shoop are shoo-ins. Nominate at least one more offensive coordinator (preferably, yours) and tell us why he deserves a 75% chance of doom.

Last year I’d be all aboard the shit on Stinespring express, but that train has left the platform. Virginia Tech is ranked first in the ACC in scoring offense with 32.6 points a game and second behind Georgia Tech in rushing offense. I’ll nominate Virginia’s Gregg Brandon to replace Stiney. Brandon’s offense has been horrible from the get go and the big reason why UVA has had some recent success is because they’ve begun to replace parts of his spread offense with their traditional pro-style scheme.